The leader knows how a sponsor funds the manual, the activity books, and the flashcards, and how to ask. This Monday–Friday plan is for 1st grade children in a homeschool co-op group.

The leader knows how a sponsor funds the manual, the activity books, and the flashcards, and how to ask. In this co-op class, 1st grade children (about 6 and 7) practice with “The turn at the slide.” Sam, the classmate, Sam moved aside and said the next turn belonged to someone who had been waiting. The Monday–Friday calendar is the one that fits: This is the Monday–Friday format from the first half of the Operation Thank You Manual. You see the same children on five school days. Each day is one mission of 5 to 10 minutes. The note is the work of the later days, not of Monday.
The co-op teacher leads. You will not see these children tomorrow. Everything that matters has to happen in the meeting, with one small home mission written in the book. Children answer in a short partner talk, then one child shares with the whole group. The spoken line is “Thank you for letting me go..” The note line is “Thank you for giving me a turn on the slide..” Alison Gilham’s program supplies the manual, the activity book, and the flashcards; this page is the plan for
Use the How To Write A Thank You Note template in the activity book. First graders fill the greeting, one sentence about the kindness, and a closing. The adult helps with names and leaves the kindness sentence to the child. For this kindness the sentence is “Thank you for giving me a turn on the slide.” It has to mention the slide or the ladder of the slide, not a general compliment to the classmate.
This is a script the co-op teacher can say with 1st grade children during sponsoring this group. It uses “The turn at the slide,” a practice situation for this plan. It is not a list of the 30 printed flashcards. Those cards stay in the set and match the activity book. Use this script when you need the words in the room.
First graders are ready to connect spoken manners with a written note. They can explain, in a simple way, that thank you is for a real person who did a real thing. A first-grade teacher, Laura H, said her children used please and thank you all the time once they knew the power behind the words. For this homeschool co-op plan, keep the mission inside 5 to 10 minutes. a short partner talk, then one child shares with the whole group.
On Monday, 1st grade children (about 6 and 7) stay with “The turn at the slide.” Look only. Put the ladder of the slide where 1st grade children can see it. Name Sam, the classmate, and say the kindness: Sam moved aside and said the next turn belonged to someone who had been waiting. It happened at the slide. Ask “What did Sam give up?” Stop at 5 to 10 minutes. No note yet. You will not see these children tomorrow. Everything that matters has to happen in the meeting, with one small home mission written in the book. If they freeze, Have two children stand at a pretend ladder. Practice the step-aside and the thanks before anyone climbs.
Spoken line to practice: “Thank you for letting me go.” Reply children may hear: “You were waiting. Go ahead.” Note line to write: “Thank you for giving me a turn on the slide.” Spanish line for the same kindness: “Gracias por dejarme el turno.”
The Operation Thank You Manual is 98 pages. The first half is the Monday–Friday classroom sequence. The second half is the once-per-week sequence for clubs. Each child needs Why and How To Say “Thank You,” the classroom edition: a saddle-stitched activity book with situations for saying thank you, the How To Write A Thank You Note template, and extra pages to practice. The flashcard set has 30 cards, 8.5 by 11 inches, colorful, with rounded corners. The cards mirror the activity book so the group can look at one situation before writing. The manual, the activity book, and the flashcards are available in Spanish. The MISSION Reminders Supplement can be added when some children speak Spanish. Extra activity books are sold in packs of 10. For “The turn at the slide,” also set out the ladder of the slide. If the books are not in the room yet, practice the spoken mission anyway, and tell families how a sponsor or an order supplies the printed set.
A co-op class may meet once a week with children from several families. That is the once-per-week half of the manual. Each child still needs an activity book. Families can mix English and Spanish copies when the co-op is bilingual. You will not see these children tomorrow. Everything that matters has to happen in the meeting, with one small home mission written in the book.
Thank a sibling for a turn with a toy, and name the toy. Write that in the activity book so the family sees Sam's kindness, not a blank “say thank you.” Use the How To Write A Thank You Note template in the activity book. First graders fill the greeting, one sentence about the kindness, and a closing. The adult helps with names and leaves the kindness sentence to the child.
Have two children stand at a pretend ladder. Practice the step-aside and the thanks before anyone climbs. A child who keeps thanking the co-op teacher is avoiding Sam. Send them back to the classmate and the moment at the slide. Whispering “Thank you for letting me go.” counts.
A co-op class may meet once a week with children from several families. That is the once-per-week half of the manual. Each child still needs an activity book. Families can mix English and Spanish copies when the co-op is bilingual.
This page is about getting the set into the co-op class: the manual, one activity book per child, and the 30-card flashcards, so “Thank you for giving me a turn on the slide.” can be written about Sam. The leader asks on Find a Sponsor at no cost. Alison Gilham matches a sponsor or takes a chosen group in any U.S. state, then calls the leader before shipping. Payment is due when the package is ready. Groups over 30 add books in tens. Spanish copies use “Gracias por dejarme el turno.” beside “Thank you for letting me go..” Email info@cultureofthankyou.com or call 971-265-8262.
If any child in the co-op class speaks Spanish at home, order the Spanish activity book for that child and keep the same situation. The Spanish line for this plan is “Gracias por dejarme el turno.” The English line remains “Thank you for letting me go.”
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Let's help the next generation learn to recognize kindness, appreciate others,
and say “Thank You” with meaning.